I trusted you with the endoscope.Disinfection of equipment at 539 examination institutions 'inappropriate'

ⓒYTN / Pictures unrelated to the article

As a result of disinfection inspections of endoscopic instruments over the past five years, 593 national health examination institutions have been judged "inappropriate," and most of them are clinic-level medical institutions.

According to an analysis of data from the National Health Insurance Corporation by Baek Jong-heon, a member of the National Health and Welfare Committee, on the 23rd, 593 gastroscopy and colonoscopy disinfection inspections conducted on 28,783 national health examination institutions from 2019 to September this year, or 2.1%, were judged "inadequate."

If endoscopic instruments are not cleaned or disinfected, or if they violate regulations by reusing disposable accessories, they will be judged inappropriate.

By endoscope type, 375 medical institutions were found to be inappropriate in the disinfection inspection of gastroscopy instruments, and 82.9% (311) of them were clinic-level medical institutions. There were 218 medical institutions that were judged inappropriate in the disinfection inspection of colonoscopy equipment, and 76.6% (167 medical institutions) of them were clinic-level medical institutions.

Among them, the amount charged for cleaning and disinfection of endoscopic instruments increased by 16.1% from 74.1 billion won in 2019 to 82.9 billion won in 2023.

According to the Health Insurance Corporation's disinfection manual, most of the high-level disinfection solutions used for endoscopic disinfection can be reused. However, if the disinfectant is repeatedly used for a long time, the disinfecting effect decreases, so the expired disinfectant must be discarded.

However, the Ministry of Health and Welfare's notice only shows the time, type, and cleaning method of disinfectant, which critics say should supplement the contents related to the disposal of disinfectant.

"There is a concern that patients undergoing endoscopic examinations may get sick due to excessive reuse of disinfectants and the use of endoscopic instruments that have not been properly disinfected," Baek said. "The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service should overhaul guidelines on the reuse and disposal of endoscopic disinfectants and strengthen management and supervision of endoscopic disinfecting."

Reporter Lee Yu Na from Digital News Team.